I do not own the Mass Effect characters or story lines. Those belong to BioWare

Prologue

Minerva Shepard sat in the delivery waiting room caught between rage and anxiety. The rage is directed towards her not quite son-in-law for not letting her be with her daughter as she gives birth. That was 5 hours ago and this is where her anxiety comes from. One of the nurses who witnessed the heated exchange between the two, came out an hour ago to let her know that there were complications with the birth. She couldn't give her any more information than that. No one else has told her anything and she is trying to bury her apprehension with anger. "Deep breaths," she murmurs. As she brings all of her emotions under control she examines her motives for each. The anxiety is the easiest to come to terms with but when she examines her fury she realizes that she is not just mad at "that man," but also herself for cutting her daughter out of her life for the past several years. Of all the times that she has wished for her intuition about people to be wrong it would be with her daughter's "lover."

"If she dies, no I can't think that way." Pacing she takes control of the only thing that is within her power at the moment, her emotions. Even those are trying to get away from her, but she refuses to be ruled by them. That was for weaker people who…

HE stalks past her barely throwing a look in her direction, "Your daughter needs you."

"What's wrong? Where are you going? ANSWER ME!" her mind screams at him. Instead of allowing these thoughts to escape she turns and runs to her daughter's room. The first sensation to hit her is the smell, latex and blood. Then her eyes catch up to her nose and she sees two nurses and one doctor staring at her like they were expecting someone else. She barely spares them a second before finding her daughter. She is so pale that the sheets seem to be claiming her. "Mother?" she croaks. Her eyes are hopeless and all of the life has left her.

"She already looks dead." Minerva is barely holding herself under control. She forces her eyes to remain on her daughter's face as she clasps the weak hand that is extended towards her.

"Please take care of her," the life has come back into Hannah's eyes long enough to plead with her mother.

"Of course I will."

"Thank you Mom. You were right,"

"Shh, that isn't important right now."

"But you were. I should have listened. I'm so sorry." The tears are streaming down both of their faces. Neither one notices when the nurses and doctor leave the room.

"Mommy, tell her I'm sorry. Tell her that I loved her and that I didn't want to leave her."

"I will, Hannah, I promise. I love you."

"I love you more," Hannah smiles weakly at the private joke, as Minerva's reserve almost breaks. She looks frightened for a moment as she stares into her mother's eyes and then pure peace overwhelms her features before the light leaves her eyes.

Minerva finally allows herself to cry. Silent tortured sobs wrack her body for what seems like days. She stands and straightens her uniform as she tells herself to get a grip. The soft sounds of footsteps approaching from the hallway causes her to turn. The most beautiful sight since her own daughter's birth greats her. The baby is perfect. She is sleeping soundly despite the world around her. The nurse hands her the baby and an overpowering love and warmth fills her heart.

"What will you call her?" the nurse asks.

"Rowan," she whispers, "it was her mother's middle name."